Wedding Ceremony - Rules & Guidelines

Congratulations to both of you on having made one of the most significant decisions of your lives! While we believe making Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior is the most important life-changing decision you can make, choosing the one with whom you will spend the rest of your life in the sacred covenant of marriage is incredibly significant. Now that you have chosen to commit yourselves to one another, we encourage you to align your engagement, your marriage and your home with the biblical standards God has created for us.

At Grace Community Church, we are committed to working with you to see that your wedding honors God, and is a worshipful, memorable and personal experience for all involved. May God continue to bless you as you look to Him for guidance regarding this important event.

REQUIREMENTS

The Engagement Covenant
Believing that marriage is a holy and sacred gift from God, it is our desire that couples approach marriage according to a way that is pleasing to God. Therefore, Pastors reserve the right to decline officiating a wedding if couples do not agree with the "engagement covenant" which includes the following:

1. 2 Corinthians 6:14-16; Romans 10:9-10 A Covenant of Belief
   In believing that the Bible teaches that Christians are to marry only Christians, we require that both bride and groom individually come to an understanding and acceptance of Christ's sacrificial death.
2. 1 Tim 4:12 A Covenant of Purity
   Believing that the sexual relationship has been designed and intended for marriage, we ask that you agree to abstain from any sexual relationship until after the wedding. Furthermore, believing that living arrangements that include cohabitation prior to the wedding is a compromise of your Christian witness, we ask that you agree to separate living arrangements until the wedding.
3. Hebrews 10:19-25 A Covenant of Faithfulness
   Believing that the Church is God's Greenhouse to grow strong marriages, we ask that you find a place of involvement in Grace Church, a part of the Body of Christ, and pursue a lifestyle of faithfulness.

Bride and Groom

1. Pre-Marital counseling from a Bible based church is highly recommended for Bride and Groom to attend together.
2. It is the responsibility and requirement of the Bride and Groom to inform all participants of the wedding ceremony that only reverent behavior will be tolerated. Any breech of these rules will result in the immediate cancellation of the ceremony and removal of guests:

-No loud or inappropriate language will be tolerated
-No tobacco or alcohol products are allowed on church property
-Inappropriate and irreverent dress will not be permitted. Bride and Bridesmaids dresses are to be modest and tasteful.

Fees

1. The $300 non-refundable deposit, along with the signed Wedding Requirements and Application are required in order to reserve your desired ceremony date and time. This must be completed at least 60 days prior to the wedding date.
2. After paying the $300 non-refundable deposit, the remaining amount must be paid in full at least 30 days prior to the wedding date.

Miscellaneous

1. All music for the ceremony must be turned in for approval at least 30 days prior to the wedding date. (See details in the 'Wedding Music' section of this form.)
2. All flowers and decorations must be removed immediately following the wedding ceremony and pictures. The church does not store any wedding decorations.
3. No one is to alter the church facility or move any furniture or plants.

POLICIES

Wedding Coordinator
To begin the reservation process, please submit the completed Wedding Requirements and Application form, along with your non-refundable deposit of $300 to Grace Community Church:

Grace Community Church

14505 Gulf Freeway
Houston, Texas 77034

The Wedding Coordinator will contact you to confirm your date and time as soon as the date is verified to be compatible with other events on the church calendar, and the minister you have chosen has agreed to officiate your ceremony.

You will have two meetings with your Grace Church Wedding Coordinator:

1. The first meeting will be to get him basic contact information and to view the site of the wedding ceremony and wedding requirements will be discussed in detail, and you will be asked to sign these requirements at that time. Also at this meeting, additional forms are completed by the Wedding Coordinator that discuss the specific details of your wedding and bridal party, and your family information. The non-refundable Deposit and signed Wedding Requirements are taken at this first meeting.
2. The third meeting is your Wedding Rehearsal.

After your wedding, your biographical information found on the wedding application will be passed on to our Home Team ministry by the wedding coordinator to assist you in finding a new Married Home Team if you are interested.

Facilities
Grace Community Church has an area where weddings can be conducted. The Wedding Coordinator will have an exact seat count for the wedding chapel. The facility will have one area for the Bride and one area for Groom to prepare for the wedding.

Rice, confetti, birdseed, flower petals (silk petals are permitted) or any other material that might be thrown or dropped at the wedding may not be used.

Rehearsal
The Wedding Coordinator will conduct your wedding rehearsal and will facilitate the ceremony on your wedding day. Grace Community Church Pastors do not conduct or attend rehearsals. The rehearsal is for the Wedding Party only to run through the Processional and Recessional. There will be no provisions made for music run-throughs, musicians or vocalists at this time. Rehearsals are to start on time and end on time and are to last no longer than one hour.

It is very important that all members of your wedding party attend the rehearsal and that they arrive on time. If you have ushers in addition to groomsmen, please ask them to be present at the rehearsal. Parents of the Bride and Groom are also encouraged to attend.

Ceremony
Only approved minister's by Grace Community Church are allowed to perform the wedding ceremony. Each Pastor uses an approved script for the wedding ceremony but changes can be made according to the Bride and Groom request.

There is a specific selection of ceremony times offered here at Grace Community Church. Due to seasonal demands on the facilities here, weddings are not scheduled on the major holiday weekends of Easter, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. Grace Church's Chapel is available for weddings on

Time: Saturdays from 10am to 2pm.
(Please consult with the Wedding Coordinator for any questions)

Sound Check: All musicians and vocalists are required to be at the sound check 1 hour prior to the ceremony. They will have one hour to complete the sound check before the doors are opened to start seating guests.

Babysitters: Grace Community Church does not provide Babysitters.

Music
Your Wedding Coordinator will help you plan the order of service for your wedding ceremony. A Grace Community Church Technician will be provided to operate sound and lights for your wedding. No outside technicians are required.

As you are selecting the music for your wedding, please remember that this is a worship service. The music chosen must be suitable for a worship service. All music including song lyrics used in the wedding must be submitted to the Wedding Coordinator and approved at least one month prior to your wedding. Grace Community Church vocalists are available for an additional fee. Please check with the Wedding Coordinator for details.

Flowers and Decorations
Your florist will have access to the Chapel one hour prior to the scheduled time of your wedding. As previously stated, all flowers and decorations must be removed immediately following the wedding ceremony and pictures. The church does not store any wedding decorations. Grace Community Church does not provide candelabra, unity candles or candle lighters. Votive or drip-less candles may be used in hurricane lamps. Aisle candles are permitted in hurricane lamps only. Check with your Wedding Coordinator for information on rental establishments.

In order to protect the carpet and furniture, plastic material must be placed under all floral arrangements and candles. Please be careful to use nothing that will mar the woodwork or furniture. Nails, staples, adhesives, etc. are not permitted. Any type of isle or row markers must be secured with padded or plastic hooks.

Photography & Video
As you make plans with your photographer, remember that your wedding is a worship service and nothing should distract you or your guests from worshipping the Lord. During the wedding ceremony, videotaping is allowed in the Chapel.

All photos taken after the wedding ceremony must be completed within 1 hour following the conclusion of the ceremony.

The rooms or venues for your wedding are only available for photographs on the day of your wedding, immediately before and after the ceremony. The church facilities are available for bridal portraits or engagement photographs.

It is your responsibility to inform your vendors of the rules in this policy that apply to them.

Those persons involved in videotaping and photographing your wedding should be dressed appropriately for the wedding and must contact the Wedding Coordinator prior to your Wedding Day for further instruction and details.

Wedding Application